Northern region records 500 HIV cases each year

Tamale, Nov 10, GNA- Northern region has been recording an average of 500 cases of HIV/AIDS infection each year for the past three years. Dr Nsiire Agana, Tamale Municipal Director of Health Services, who disclosed this in Tamale on Tuesday said 40 per cent of the victims were made up of pregnant women, blood donors and patients. Speaking at the first meet-the-press series organised by the regional co-ordinating council for district assemblies to present their programmes to the public, Dr Agana said Bole district accounts for most of the cases. This is because its position as a border district with Cote D'ivoire makes it easier for the people to move in and out of that country.

He said the regional health directorate has established a unit for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) where HIV/AIDS and other STD victims are counselled and given attention. On Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) disease, Dr Agana said no major outbreak is anticipated in the next few years because of the extensive vaccination that was undertaken during the last outbreak. He said the ministry of health has now adopted the surveillance mechanism where isolated cases are quickly contained. He explained that given the high cost of the vaccine, it was the best option adding that it was the failure to monitor the situation after the previous vaccination which resulted in the outbreak and spread of the disease.